The engineer in you should be screaming - DESIGN GOALS. These are all motors designed to a target cost first, performance next. They're not exercises in extracting the maximum go from a given arrangement and displacement.
I’m an engineer as well. It’s always that damn balance between performance vs reliability then decrease part 1 to increase part two all while getting the cost back to target. Damn wants vs needs always bites you
If it is anything like the 690, which it looks to be, then yes, the tank will not allow for clip ons.
My guess is that registration closed a couple days ago and the grid is light. Wanna get the grid up and allow more of the dominant bike to the show.